When Angelina Jolie discovered she had a mutation on the BRCA1 gene, she had a double mastectomy to drastically reduce her chances of getting cancer. Generally, everyone has been supportive of the move, describing it as "brave" and "heroic." OK, well—not everyone.

Melissa Etheridge—who also carries the BRCA1 gene and went through treatment for breast cancer—recently spoke with the Washington Blade, saying: "I wouldn't call it the brave choice. I actually think it's the most fearful choice you can make when confronting anything with cancer."

Melissa says that stress one of the reasons behind cancer: "My belief is that cancer comes from inside you and so much of it has to do with the environment of your body. It's the stress that will turn that gene on or not. Plenty of people have the gene mutation and everything, but it never comes to cancer, so I would say to anybody faced with that, that choice is way down the line on the spectrum of what you can do and to really consider the advancements we've made in things like nutrition and stress levels."

Melissa has been cancer-free for nine years. She later somewhat qualified her statements about Angelina, saying: "I don't have any opinion of what she 'should have' done. All are free to choose. I only objected to the term 'brave' describing it."